Case-making machinery

ABSTRACT

A machine for receiving formed but collapsed cases, forming same into a squared stack and delivering them from the stack in shingled configuration, comprising a stack retaining means into which cases are successively delivered, means for spanking at least one side of the stack to square the cases within the stack, and means for feeding cases from the under side of the stack, the relative positions of the stack retaining means and said feeding means being adjustable such that in use said feeding means is caused to engage each case and feed same from the stack before at least the immediately preceding case has cleared the confines of the stack retaining means, whereby the cases are fed from the stack in shingled configuration.

United States Patent 1191 Johnson CASE-MAKING MACHINERY Frederick Paul Johnson, Audenshaw, England [75] Inventor:

Henry Simon Limited, Cheshire, England 22 Filed: Feb. 15, 1974 [211 Appl. No.: 442,882

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Scr. No. 257,139, May 26, 1972,

abandoned.

[73] Assignee:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 26, 197l United Kingdom ..30048/71 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Larsson 214/6 D X Krinke 271/35 X 3,522,943 8/1970 Swanson 271/6 3,622,149 11/1971 Enskat 271/35 3,705,719 12/1972 Polit et a1. 271/3.l 3,776,544 12/1973 Watson et a1 27l/3.1

Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant ExaminerLeslie J. Papemer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Norris & Bateman 57 1 ABSTRACT A machine for receiving formed but collapsed cases, forming same into a squared stack and delivering them from the stack in shingled configuration, comprising a stack retaining means into which cases are successively delivered, means for spanking at least one side of the stack to square the cases within the stack, and means for feeding cases from the under side of the stack, the relative positions of the stack retaining means and said feeding means being adjustable such that in use said feeding means is caused to engage each case and feed same from the stack before at least the immediately preceding case has cleared the confines of the stack retaining means, whereby the cases are fed from the stack in shingled configuration.

9 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure CASE-MAKING MACHINERY This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 257,1 39, filed May 26, 1972, and now abandoned.

This invention relates to case-making machinery, and more particularly a machine for receiving formed but collapsed cases of corrugated board or similar material. forming same into a squared stack and delivering them from such stack in shingled configuration.

In the case-making industry it is usual to collect formed but collapsed cases into stacked bundles of predetermined number. For this purpose the cases are conveniently arranged on a conveyor in such a manner that the leading portion of each case is lapped over the trailing portion of the preceding case. Such a configuration will be referred to hereinafter as a shingled configuration.

According to the present invention a machine for receiving formed by collapsed cases, forming same into a squared stack and delivering them from the stack in shingled configuration, comprises a stack retaining means into which cases are successively delivered, means for spanking at least one side of the stack to square the cases within the stack, and means for feeding cases from the underside of the stack, the relative positions of the stack retaining means and said feeding means being adjustable such that in use said feeding means is caused to engage each case and feed same from the stack before at least the immediately preceding case has cleared the confines of the stack retaining means, whereby thecases are fed from the stack in shingled configuration.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the single FIG- URE of the accompanying drawing which shows, by way of example only, a diagrammatic side elevation of one form of machine embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, it will be seen that the machine includes a stack retaining means in the form of a hopper generally indicated at 10. The hopper is essentially defined by a front wall 11 and a rear wall 12.

The front wall 11 is longitudinally adjustable on a pair of parallel arms 13 and 14 on each side of the hopper, whereby the front to rear dimension of the hopper can be varied to accommodate different sizes of case. The arms 13 and 14 are pivotally connected to frame members 15 adjacent the rear of the hopper 10. The ends of the arms 13 and 14 remote from the hopper 16 are pivotally connected by a link member 16 which can be raised and lowered by the rod 17 of a double-acting cylinder 18.

A conveyor 19 is disposed beneath the underside of the hopper 10 and extends forwardly therefrom. Formed but collapsed cases are delivered from a conventional folder-gluer machine to the upper end of the hopper 10 by means of feed rolls 20 and 21. The rear wall 12 is reciprocable and acts as a spanking plate to square the cases lying within the hopper 10 against the front wall 11.

It will be noted that when the device is in use the hopper 10 is set at an angle with respect to the conveyor 19, whereby the lower edge of the front wall 11 defines with the conveyor 19 a gate through which cases may be conveyed from the stack. Because the stack is at an angle to the conveyor 19, successive cases are engaged by the conveyor 19 and progressed from the stack thereby before at least the immediately preceding case has cleared the confines of the stack. It follows that the cases issue from the stack in shingled configuration.

As shown in the drawings the upper flight of endless conveyor 19 is inclined to extend forwardly and-upwardly at an acute angle to the horizontal, and the hopper is so inclined that .the cases therein extend forwardly and upwardly at an acute angle to the horizontal that is greater than that of the conveyor top flight.

The rear side of the stack at wall 12 is disposed immediately above and adjacent the top flight of the conveyor 19 whereby the conveyor 19 first engages only the rear edge of each successive case and commences to feed same from the stack before at least the immediately preceding case has cleared the stack.

It is important that cases are removed from the stack at substantially the same rate as they are fed thereinto by the feed rolls 20 and 21.

Control of the machine can be achieved in two ways. Thus, the speed of the conveyor 19 can be varied to adjust the rate at which cases are taken from the stack. This adjustment does not affect the configuration of the cases issuing from the stack. Normally, therefore, the conveyor 19 will be driven at a speed proportional to the speed of the feed rolls 20 and 21. It will be understood that the conveyor 19 cannot be used to make' any fine adjustment to correct any irregularity if there is a fixed ratio driving connection between it and the feed 0 rolls 20 and 21.

Control can also be obtained, by pivoting the arms 13 and 14 relative to the frame members 15 thereby adjusting the angle of the stack relative to the conveyor 19 and the depth of the gate defined between the surface of the conveyor and the lower edge of the front wall 11. The effect of this adjustment is to alter the degree to which the cases are shingled as they issue from the stack, and therefore the rate at which they are taken from the stack. Conveniently, therefore, the cylinder 18 is actuated in response to microswitches sensing maximum and minimum acceptable levels of cases in the stack to give a fine control mechanism.

On an initial starting operation when there are no cases in the hopper the arms 13 and 14 should be moved to a lowered position so that the gate is substantially closed, to enable a stack to be formed, and then gradually raised to the working position thus allowing the conveyor 19 to withdraw cases from the stack and assume the start of the required shingled configuration.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for receiving formed but collapsed cases, forming same into a squared stack and delivering them from the stack in shingled configuration, comprising a stack retaining means into which cases are successively delivered, means for spanking at least one side of the stack to square the cases within the stack, means for feeding cases from the under side of the stack, the relative positions of the stack retaining means and said feeding means being adjustable such that in use said feeding means is caused to engage each case and feed same from the stack before at least the immediately preceding case has cleared the confines of the stack retaining means, whereby the cases are fed from the stack in shingled configuration, said stack retaining means comprising a hopper having front and rear walls respectively arranged in substantially parallel spaced relationship above said feeding means, the lower edge of said front wall being adjustable in height relative to said feeding means thus to form a gate therebetween through which cases may issue in shingled configuration, the adjustment of said front wall being effected by tilting said hopper and the cases contained therein relative to said feeding means, said front wall of said hopper being mounted on arms extending away from said rear wall, and said front wall being movable along said arms thus to vary the front to rear dimension of said hopper and so accommodate different sizes of cases, and means whereby said arms are pivotally connected to a fixed frame portion adjacent said rear wall and to power means for raising and lowering said arms thus to tilt said hopper.

2. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein said stack retaining means has an open bottom and collapsed cases are delivered into the upper end of said stack retaining means, and said feeding means comprises the upper flight of an endless conveyor disposed below said stack retaining means with the rear side of said stack being disposed immediately above and adjacent said conveyor flight so that in use said conveyor flight first engages only the rear edge of each successive case to commence feeding thereof from the stack.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said stack retaining means comprises a pivoted hopper having front and rear substantially vertical walls respectively arranged in parallel spaced relationship above said feeding means, said front wall being stationary during operation of said machine.

4. A machine according to claim I. wherein said front wall of said hopper is mounted on parallel arms on opposite sides thereof, extending away from said rear wall, said front wall being movable along said arms thus to vary the front to rear dimension of said hopper and so accommodate different sizes of cases.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said endless conveyor upper flight is inclined at an acute angle relative to the lowermost case in said stack retaining means, and the rear side of said stack is disposed adjacent the upstream end of said upper flight.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein means is provided for adjusting the angularity of said conveyor flight relative to the cases in said stack.

7. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein means is provided for varying the relative positions of said stack retaining means and said feeding means for varying the rate that cases are fed from said stack.

8. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein said cases in the stack are inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal and said conveyor flight is inclined at an acute angle relative to the lowermost case in the stack retaining means.

9. The machine defined in claim 1, link means are connected between the free ends of said arms and said 

1. A machine for receiving formed but collapsed cases, forming same into a squared stack and delivering them from the stack in shingled configuration, comprising a stack retaining means into which cases are successively delivered, means for spanking at least one side of the stack to square the cases within the stack, means for feeding cases from the under side of the stack, the relative positions of the stack retaining means and said feeding means being adjustable such that in use said feeding means is caused to engage each case and feed same from the stack before at least the immediately preceding case has cleared the confines of the stack retaining means, whereby the cases are fed from the stack in shingled configuration, said stack retaining means comprising a hopper having front and rear walls respectively arranged in substantially parallel spaced relationship above said feeding means, the lower edge of said front wall being adjustable in height relative to said feeding means thus to form a gate therebetween through which cases may issue in shingled configuration, the adjustment of said front wall being effected by tilting said hopper and the cases contained therein relative to said feeding means, said front wall of said hopper being mounted on arms extending away from said rear wall, and said front wall being movable along said arms thus to vary the front to rear dimension of said hopper and so accommodate different sizes of cases, and means whereby said arms are pivotally connected to a fixed frame portion adjacent said rear wall and to power means for raising and lowering said arms thus to tilt said hopper.
 2. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein said stack retaining means has an open bottom and collapsed cases are delivered into the upper end of said stack retaining means, and said feeding means comprises the upper flight of an endless conveyor disposed below said stack retaining means with the rear side of said stack being disposed immediately above and adjacent said conveyor flight so that in use said conveyor flight first engages only the rear edge of each successive case to commence feeding thereof from the stack.
 3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said stack retaining means comprises a pivoted hopper having front and rear substantially vertical walls respectively arranged in parallel spaced relationship above said feeding means, said front wall being stationary during operation of said machine.
 4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said front wall of said hopper is mounted on parallel arms on opposite sides thereof, extending away from said rear wall, said front wall being movable along said arms thus to vary the front to rear dimension of said hopper and so accommodate different sizes of cases.
 5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said endless conveyor upper flight is inclined at an acute angle relative to the lowermost case in said stack retaining means, and the rear side of said stack is disposed adjacent the upstream end of said upper flight.
 6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein means is provided for adjusting the angularity of said conveyor flight relative to the cases in said stack.
 7. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein means is provided for varying the relative positions of said stack retaining means and said feeding means for varying the rate that cases are fed from said stack.
 8. The machine defined in claim 1, wherein said cases in the stack are inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal and said conveyor flight is inclined at an acute angle relative to the lowermost case in the stack retaining means.
 9. The machine defined in claim 1, link means are connected between the free ends of said arms and said power means. 